TORONTO, ON – Native Earth Performing Arts announces the line-up for its 34th season, which places a focus on transformations happening in our community, our country, our world. With evolutions from the personal realm to the public, resistance to acceptance, ignorance to understanding, and ultimately, from the past to the present, Artistic Director Ryan Cunningham and Managing Director Isaac Thomas invite you to witness change.
ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF INDIGENOUS WORKS
November 9 – 19, 2016 | Aki Studio
Single Tickets $15, Festival Pass $60
The 29th Weesageechak Begins to Dance festival will offer artists and audiences access to the rich and diverse Indigenous experience as expressed through the arts. From intimate relationships to dystopian futures, comedy, dance, poetry and everything in between, this year’s festival will take audiences on a different journey every night. Special events include a new evening cabaret and the return of our Professional Development Series.
MÉTIS MUTT
Written and Performed by Sheldon Elter
January 27 – February 5, 2017 | Aki Studio
Single Tickets $15-$25
In this hilarious and award-winning one-man show, Sheldon Elter recounts his coming-of-age story amid two distinct cultures. Using comedy, music, storytelling and multi-character vignettes, Elter’s Métis Mutt is an intimate, personal tale that unravels racial issues and embraces the choice of life.
NIIMI’IWE: INDIGENOUS DANCE DOUBLE BILL
LIGHT BREAKING THROUGH BROKEN | THE NDN WAY
March 29 – April 1, 2017 | Aki Studio
Single Tickets $25, Double Bill $40
Light Breaking Through BROKEN
a creative collaboration by Margaret Grenier and Karen Jamieson
Peeling back the layers of the unknown, and forging a path to understanding, Light Breaking Through BROKEN is the personal journey of two artists reconnecting with language, culture, and identity. With different cultural perspectives and individual histories, Grenier and Jamieson use their distinct dance styles to push each other’s boundaries and find an opening to the light.
the NDN way
created by Brian Solomon
In 1974, a budding artist created her first CBC documentary after finding inspiration in the synthesis of the Cree world views by Ron Evans. Inspired by the same original recording of the Cree storyteller, Solomon’s the NDN way re-imagines, remixes and interprets these philosophies about medicine teachings, pipe ceremonies, sweat lodges and death in a highly theatrical, visual art-warp.
HUFF
Written and Performed by Cliff Cardinal
On Tour 2017
Following the incredible success of our nine-city national tour, Native Earth will take our critically acclaimed, four-time Dora Award-nominated production of Huff by Cliff Cardinal back on tour.
FESTIVAL PARTNERSHIPS
RUTAS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2016
presented in partnership with Aluna Theatre
October 5 – 16, 2016 | Aki Studio
RUTAS 2016 brings together artists from across the hemisphere – from South to North – for two weeks of theatre, music, visual arts, and conversations about performance and human rights. The 2016 festival showcases the provocative artistic perspectives from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Haiti, New Zealand, and the USA that are redefining cultural practices in the Americas.
PAPRIKA FESTIVAL 2017
May 2017 | Aki Studio
Native Earth is proud to partner for the second year with Paprika Festival to bring their youth-led performing arts festival to Aki Studio. Together, through this partnership, Native Earth and Paprika Festival will offer a barrier-free accessible program for Indigenous youth and residents of Regent Park, creating opportunities for young artists to become more engaged than ever before.
“By joining us in Aki Studio and witnessing these transformations,
we hope you, too, will dare to change.”
– Ryan Cunningham, Artistic Director
WEESAGEECHAK BEGINS TO DANCE 29:
ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF INDIGENOUS WORKS
November 9 – 19, 2016 | Aki Studio | Single Tickets $15, Festival Pass $60
MÉTIS MUTT
Written and Performed by Sheldon Elter
January 27 – February 5, 2017 | Aki Studio | Single Tickets $15-$25
NIIMI’IWE: INDIGENOUS DANCE DOUBLE BILL
LIGHT BREAKING THROUGH BROKEN | THE NDN WAY
March 29 – April 1, 2017 | Aki Studio | Single Tickets $25, Double Bill $40
HUFF
Written and Performed by Cliff Cardinal
On Tour 2017
FESTIVAL PARTNERSHIPS
RUTAS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2016
presented in partnership with Aluna Theatre
October 5 – 16, 2016 | Aki Studio
PAPRIKA FESTIVAL 2017
May 2017 | Aki Studio
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